May 11, 2010

BCU Students Experience Prairie Research Center

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Environmental science students enrolled in the Prairie Ecology course at Briar Cliff University recently completed a weekend trip to Konza Prairie Biological Station. Located in the Kansas Flint Hills in Eastern Kansas, the Konza Prairie is the predominant center of North American tallgrass prairie research.

On the study tour were BCU students Connor Lindquist, Albert City, Iowa; Nicholas Rettke, Mound, Minn.; Craig Samek, Sioux City; Brian Souder, Rockwell, City, Iowa; Logan Teut, Ute, Iowa; and Jordon Watkins, Sioux City.

Brian Hazlett, Ph.D., professor of biology and environmental science and director BCU’s Center for Prairie Studies, led the BCU group, which included professor of chemistry at Briar Cliff Paul Weber, Ph.D., who was a guest on the trip.

“Visiting the Konza Prairie Biological Station and other sites in Kansas and Nebraska served as a capstone experience to conclude our Prairie Ecology class,” said Dr. Hazlett. “Leading up to the weekend trip, students studied prairie research, prairie characteristics, maintenance of prairie biological diversity and the roles of bison and fire on the prairie.”

The Briar Cliff group also visited Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City Kan., the Pony Express Museum in Marysville, Kan., and Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice, Neb.

Enrollment at Briar Cliff University is over 1,100 students from 28 states. Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an environment of care, compassion and openness to all. For more information, please visit www.briarcliff.edu.

-30-